Rock drill



E. G. GARTIN Apri] 18,` 1939.

ROCK DRILL Filed Nov. l, 1934 A sw www R. wlmi Wav .m MWUW m6 M w ,m Mm Y B wwhmm.

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Patented Apr. 18, v1939 .UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE Massachusetts. f

appiicationivovember 1, 1934, serial No. 751,011v

v1o claims. (o1. 121-13) Thislinvention relates to rockk drills, and 'more particularly has reference tov improvementsy in thevlubricating meansv of such drills.v y f An object ofV this invention isv to provide an improved rock drill lubricating'means. Another object is to provide an improved automatic lubricating means for a pressure iluid actuated` rock drill. A yfurther object is to provide an improved lubricating means embodied in the rock drill for-supplying lubricant to-the moving parts of the drill irrespective of the supportedposition of' the drill.r Another object is to provide an improved'automati lubricator incorporated inthe front head structure" of"tlfie`r`ock drill; 'I'hese and other objects' will, however. subsequently more fully appear.

In the 'accompanying' drawing there is shown.` for purposesof illustration, one' form which' the( invention may assur'ne'inv practice.

Fig. 1 is4 a longitudinal sectional' view of a rockdrilly in which the illustrative' form of 'the' improved lubricatingmeanssis embodied; the" viewbeing'taken-in 'the plane of line I-I" lof' Fig. 2'. r A Y f Fig. 2is a crossf sectional View takeny on line` 2 2 of'Fig. 1.

Fig. 3` is a cross sectionalV view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1..` 1 rk Fig. 4 is a cross sectional-viewy taken on line Fig. 5l is a detail sectionalview takenin the plane ofline 5-5of Fig..3, showingparts ofthe improved lubricating means. f I

Fig. 6 is an elevational viewy of the lubrlcatorw control pendulum. Y

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line l--lofFig.6.r` v l l Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectionalview of the lubricant discharge control element. y

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional View taken on line Ils-9KA of Fig. 8(

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention.y the improved lubricating means is .shown embodied in a-hammerrockfdrill-having apres? sure fluid actuated hammer motor comprisinga cylinder I having a bore2. containing-a reciprocatory hammer piston. 3; LThe hammer pistonhas ahead-4 "fitting the.bor.,2 and a forwardly projecting striking bar. 5 adapted to deliverim"` pact blows tothe shank ofthe usual lugged rock drill steel 6. v f v As-is usual in rock'drills of the typevdisclosed, rotation Ameans operated by the hammer piston 55. is provided for rotating the drill steel andl comprising a ratchet ring 1 having formed internally therein ratchet teeth 8 with'which usual pawls 9 are engageable, these pawls being carried by a pawl `carrier I0 with which there. is integrally formed a rie bar II.- This vrifle bar has spiral grooves interlocked' with spiral ribs formed on arifle nut I2 secured withinthe hammer piston. As the hammer piston moves forwardly, the pawls of-the pawl carrier slip' over thev ratchetrteeth so that the piston delivers an unimpeded blow to the drill steel shank, and upon reversal of the piston the pawls hold the rie bar against rotation, and due to the spiral interlocking connection between the rifle bar and rifle nut, rotative movement is imparted to the piston. This rotary piston motion is transmitted to the drill steel through straight Vgrooves I3`formed on the striking bar 5` and interlocked Vwith straight ribs I4 formed on a chuck sleeve lrotatably mounted Within a front chuckhousing I 6. Secured to this chuck sleeve is a chuck bushing I1 within which the drill steel shank Lis supported, and this bushingconn'ects to the chuck sleeve a driver member |81 which has lugs |9` engaging in driving relation the drill steel lugs. It will thus be seenthat as the drill steelispercussively actuated by theV hammer piston, it is 'at the same time rotated. The'pist'on striking bar is yguided in a. bore.. 20 formed in abushing 2'I secured within the front motor head 22.

The fluid distribution means for eiecting reciprocatiori of the'hammer piston comprises a throttle valve 23 carried within a'rear head'block 24, a'ndfthis valve-'controls therow of pressure fluid througha passage 25 to a fluid supply chamber 26 formed in the head'block. Arranged between the ratchet ringvand the rear end of the cylinder bore are cooperatingvalve chest elements 21 and 2li-having formed therein a vvalve'chamber 29'in whichis arranged anA automatic uid actuated iluid distributingvalve 30, herein preferably of the'well known sleeve type. Pressure; fluid is supplied to' the valve chamber through a passage 3l communicatingwithfthechamber 26 for conductingfpres'sure fluid Ito an annularv fluidy supply recess 32'communicatingwith the valve chamber, and thedistrbuting valve controls the ow of'v pressure' fluid from recessv 32 through usual ports and passages to the opposite ends of thev motor cylinder. The cylinder is provided with usual fluid'exhaust means.. As the particular structure of. the hammer motor and its associated rotation meansdoes not enter into this invention other than its particular association therewith,

further description thereof is considered unnecessary.

Now referring to the improved lubricating means, it will be noted that the front motor head 22 is arranged in a bore 35 in the forward portion of the motor cylinder, and the forward end of this bore is closed by a head member 36 having an inwardly directed iiange engaging a reduced portion on the striking bar guide bushing 2l, and this front motor head is annularly grooved and cooperates with the walls of the bore 35 to formi an annular lubricant reservoir 31. Threaded within the wall of the cylinder is a filler plug 38 whereby the reservoir 31 may be readily filled with lubricant. Rotatably mounted at 39 on the cylin-Y drical portion of the front motor head 22 and arranged between the inner face of the head member 36 and an annular flange 48 on the head member 22, is a pendulum 4 I herein generally annular a passage 48 in the front motor head 22, the pas- Y sage 48 being connected through ports 49, 49 with the grooves 43, 43. Formed in the inner wall of the pendulum, midway between the grooves 43, 43, is a similar groove 58 connected through a passage 5l in the lower weighted portion 42 of the pendulum with the lubricant reservoir 31. Lubricant is discharged from the reservoir through the passage 5I tothe air supply passage for the distributing valve chamber; and this passage 5l communicates as shown in Fig. 1, through the groove 50 and a port 52 in the' front head, with a passage 53, also formed in the front head, the lattercommunicating with an annular groove 54 surrounding the exterior periphery of the larger portion of the head. A passage 55 in the cylinder communicates at its forward end through a port 56 with the groove 54, and at its rearward end through a port 51 with a passage 58 formed cenltrally in a rotatable lubricant discharge plug 59,

and this plug is traversed by a right angle passage 6l communicating with the central passage 58 and with the uid sup-ply passage 3l at the opposite sides of the plug. The outer end of the plug 59 is provided with a screw driver slot 62 for adjusting the plug when the valve chest is removed from the rear bore of the cylinder, and the exterior of the plug is serrated at 63, and a spring pressed plunger lock 64 is provided for engaging these serrations for locking the plug in its different adjusted positions.

The operation of the lubricating means thus far described is as follows: When the drill is in the horizontal drilling position shown in Fig. 1 and the throttle valve is open to'supply pressure fluid to the valve chamber for distribution to the motor cylinder, thereby to effect reciprocation of the motor piston, pressure fluid at the same time ows from recess 32 through passages 46, 41 and 48, and thence through ports 49, 49, grooves 43, 43 and portY44 to the upper portion of the lubricant reservoir31 so that the pressure fluid thus flow-r the lubricant contained therein. As thepressurel ing to the reservoir'acts on the upper surface of iiuid flows through passage 3| tothe valve chamber, uid also flows through passage 6| in the adjustable plug 59, thereby creating with a cupping or Pitot tube action a suction within the passage 58, port 51, passage 55, port 56, passage 53, port 52 and passage 5! so that lubricant is drawn through these last named passages into the air stream flowing through the supply passage 3i to the valve chamber, and the lubricant entrained in this flowing fluid is carried to all the moving parts of the motor effectively to lubricate the same. If the drill is turned intov any position about its longitudinal axis when in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1, lubricant is at all times supplied from the reservoir to the moving motor parts, since when the drill is so moved about its longitudinal axis the pendulum merely swings about its bearing on the front motor head, thereby maintaining the discharge passage 5l at all times immersed in the lubricant while the air port 44 is at all times at the upper portion of the reservoir. When it is desired to move the drill into a vertical down-hole drilling position, the flow of pressure fluid to the reservoir and the discharge of lubricant therefrom are maintained, since the air supply port 44 and the lubricant discharge passage 5I at that time occupy a position within the lower portion of the reservoir soi that the lubricant discharge passage is maintained immersed in the lubricant. It will thus be seen that the improved lubricating means thus far described at all times maintains a flow of lubricant to the drill parts when the drill is in any horizontal drilling position about its longitudinal axis or in a vertical down-hole drilling position.

Now referring to the improved means for supplying lubricant to the moving drill parts when the drill is in a vertical up-hole drilling position, it will be noted that communicating with the rear end of the lubricant reservoir 31 is a passage 10, in turn communicating with an annular groove 1I formed about the exterior periphery of the enlarged portion of the front motor head 22. This groove 1l is connected through a passage 12 with a longitudinal passage 13 formed in the front motor head, and this passage in turn communicates at its forward end with an annular groove 14 formed in the forward face of the front motor head. 'I'he groove 14 is connected lthrough a longitudinal passage 15 to a radial passage 16 communicating with the groove 54 of the lubricant discharge passage means. It will thus` be `seen that when the rock drill is in a vertical up-hole drilling position pressure fluid flows from the supply recess 32 through passages 46, 41, 48, ports 49 and fluid discharge port 44 communicating with the upper portion of the lubricant reservoir 31 for maintaining a pressure on the4 upper surface of the lubricant. Lubricant is then discharged from the reservoir through passage 18,4groove 1l, passage 13, groove 14, passages 15, 16, groove 54, port 56, passage 55, port 51 4and passages 58 and 6l in thev adjustable pmgg.. *Y

vThe arrangement Adescribed to provide for lubrication during up-hole drilling can not prevent satisfactory lubrication during horizontal and down-hole drilling, for the passages 13, 15 etc. are longer, and may bemore restricted, if desired, than the r oil connection from the pendulum inlet to the groove 54; and moreover the oil during.

drilling tends to emulsify and pass readilythrougn any available opening into vthe reservoir to the point of communication with thewmain airsupply passage.

2154445f During-normal operation ofthe motor the -lubricantilentrainedf in the pressurefluid owingto th'emotor cylinder flows through the ilutesIB inthe piston striking bar to arecessla'formedvbetween therforward end of thelguide bushingfZI4 and the rear end 'of the chucksleeve I5,y thelubricant owing from this recess past the adjacent surfacesofthe members36 and I5 to the bearing surfaces-between the rotating elements I5` and` Iand thechuckhousing, lubricant also'iowingv "through" a longitudinal lpassage 8l inthe chuck housing and port 82 with the chuck housing bore. During operation ofthe drill in a horizontal-'for vertical "fdoWn-hole drilling l position, lubricant may'lowthroughthepassages 19, recess 80 and `passage 8lV 'to thel chuck housing bore from the discharge groove 54, passages 16, lcommunicating.l with the` groove I4 with vwhich the passages 'I9 'also communicate.

Lubricant is discharged from the reservoir V3" byfcombined 'action offthe pressure ron the surfaceofnthe lubricant and the suction created in the passage 55 by the passagesr in the adjustable plug59; By the insertion ofv a screw driver in the slot 152, the plug 59 may be rotated to vary yj theangular .position of the passage 6I with respect to the fluid supply passage 3| so that the suction.. created in the mouthofthe passage 6I f may bei varied, the pressure fluid owing through the passage I? creating the suction in the passage 55xx-by. the cupping or Pitot tube action at the `mouth of the passage 6I, which is varied bysuch change in the'v angular relation of the passage 6I with respect tothe supply passage 3l.

As a result of this'invention, it will be noted that anfimprovedf automatic lubricating means isfprovided for a rock drill, wherein lubricant is automaticallysupplied tothe moving parts of the v`drillirrespective'of the supported position of the sdrill. It will further be noted that by embodying theimproved lubricator directly within the front head structure of the drill, an improved lubricating. action is attained, it being possible to. regulate the flow of lubricant to the drill in anA improved `and more effective kmanner by direct lubricant dischargeto the air supply passage of the drill. i It will further be evident that the improved' lubricator is of anv extremely-simple and compact structurewhi'ch may befembodied in a l standard form of rock drill with a minimum of change..-

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assumein practice, it will be understood that this form is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modiiied and embodied in Various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a rock drill, a pressure fluid actuated hammer motor for actuating a drill steel and having moving motor parts, and lubricator means embodied in the rock drill for supplying lubricant to the moving motor parts irrespective of the supported position of the drill and comprising-a pressure' uidjt'osaid reservoir and'for discharging lubricant from said reservoir: to said motor irrespective-of the angular or endwise tilted 'positions of the drill, saidsupply and discharge Vpas-A sagerv means including afweighted member swinga'bly'mountedin said reservoir and having a fluid supplyll passage and a lubricant discharge passage both communicating with`- said reservoir in all' positions Vof the 'weighted merrlberl rabout its pivot.

2. In airock drill, a vpressure uid Vactuated hammerlmotor for actuatinga drillA steel and having moving motor parts, andr lubricator means embodiedin' the rock drillv for supplying lubricant to the moving motor parts'irrespec'tive of the supported position of' the drill and comprising a lubricant f reservoir, vpassage means for supplying pressure' iiuid to said reservoir andfor discharg-v ing 'lubricant `from said reservoir'to said motor irrespectiveof the angular or endwise tilted positions of the drill,` said supply an'cl discharge passage means including-a weighted member swingably mounted in said' reservoir and having a fluid supply passage and a' lubricant discharge passage both' communicating with 'said reservoir in all positions of the Weighted member about its pivot,'and lseparate lubricant discharge passage means for discharging lubricant from said reservoir to said motor' independently of said discharge passage when the'drill is in up-hole vertical drilling position.

3.."Iny a rock drill; a press'ure uid actuated,

hammermotor for actuating a -drill steel and having moving motor parts,v and lubricator means embodied inthe rock drill and' operative upon flow"of pressure fluid'to said motor'and including a-lubricant reservoir, a'pas'sageway for the flow of pressure uid and means for supplying pressure fluidtoand'for discharging lubricant from said vreservoir includingmeans movably mounted in said reservoir and havingipassage means for delivering lubricant from the reservoir for delivery to said passageway, said movably mounted meansbeing automatically movable into dii-Ierent'lubricant dischargingy positions with respect tothe reservoir so that lubricant may be discharged from the reservoirto the motor in different supported positions'of the rock drill.

4. In a rock drill, a vpressure fluid actuated hammer motor for moving a drill steel and having` moving motor parts, and lubricator means embodied in the rock drill and operative upon'flow of Ypressure uidto said motor for supplying lubricant automatically to the moving motor lparts and includingA a lubricant reservoir,a passage- 4way forthe iiowof pressure fluid and means for supplylngfpressure uid to and for discharging \lubricant'-from said reservoir including a pendulum member swingably mounted in said reservoir and having passage means for supplying pressure uid to said reservoir and for delivering lubricant from said reservoir for delivery into said passageway, said pendulum being automatically swingable into different pressure iiuid supplying and lubricant discharging positions with respect to the reservoir so that pressure fluid may be supplied to and lubricant discharged from said reservoir in different supported positions of the rock drill.

5. In a rock drill, a pressure uid actuated hammer motor for actuating a drill steel and having moving motor parts, and lubricator means embodied in the rock drill and operative upon flow of pressure fluid to said motor for supplying lubricant automatically to the moving motor lubricant freservoir, passage y means for supplying" parts and including a lubricant reservoir, a passageway for the flow of pressure iluid and means for supplying pressure uid to and for discharging lubricant from said reservoir including a pendulum member swingably mounted in said reservoir on an axis alined with the longitudinal axis of the rock drill and having a passage communicating with the reservoir and a passage for delivering lubricant from the reservoir for delivery into said passageway, said pendulum being automatically swingable into different lubricant discharging positions with respect to the reservoir so that lubricant may be discharged from the reservoir in any position of the rock drill about its longitudinal axis.

6. In a rock drill, a pressure uid actuated hammer motor for actuating a drill steel and having moving motor parts, and lubricator means embodied in the rock drill and operative upon flow of pressure fluid to said motor for supplying lubricant automatically to the moving motor parts and including a lubricant reservoir, a passageway for the ilow'of pressure fluid and means for supplying pressure fluid to and for discharging lubricant from said reservoir including means movably mounted in said reservoir for delivering lubricant from the lower portion of the reservoir for delivery to said passageway irrespective of which portion becomes the lower portion due to turning of the drill about its longitudinal axis.

7. In a rock drill, a pressure fluid actuated hammer motor for' actuating a drill steel and including a cylinder containing a reciprocable piston and a front head having an opening through which a portion of the piston moves, and automatic lubricating means for the rock drill operative upon ow of pressure fluid `to said motor for supplying automatically lubricant to the motor cylinder irrespective of the supported position of the drill, said lubricating means including a lubricant reservoir formed by the cylinder and front head, a pressure fluid passageway, and means for supplying pressure duid to and for discharging lubricant from said reservoir including means movably mounted in said reservoir for delivering lubricant from the reservoir for delivery to said fluid passageway in different suplported positions of the drill.

8. In a rock drill, a pressure iluid actuated hammer motor for actuating a drill steel including a cylinder containing a reciprocable piston and a front head having an opening through which a portion of the piston moves, and automatic lubricating means for the rock drill operative upon ilow of pressure fluid to said motor for automatically supplying lubricant to the motor cylinder in any supported position of the rock drill, said lubricating means including a lubricant reservoir formed by the cylinder and front head, a pressure fluid passageway, and means for supplying pressure uid to and for discharging lubricant from said reservoir including means for delivering lubricant from said reservoir to said fluid passageway, said front head providing an annular bearing surrounding the opening through which the piston extends and said lubricant delivering means including a pendulum swingably mounted on said bearing in said reservoir and having a lubricant discharge passageway communicating with the lower portion of said reservoir in different supported positions of the rock drill, said lubricant discharge passageway discharging into said fluid passageway. Y

9. In a rock drill, a pressure fluid actuated hammer motor for actuating a drill steel and having moving motor parts, and lubricator means embodied in the rock drill and operative only upon flow of pressure iiuid to said motor for automatically supplying a continuous controlled ilow of lubricant to the moving motor parts irrespective of the drilling position of the rock drill and the level of the lubricant in said lubricator means, said lubricator means including a lubricant reservoir and means for supplying pressure fluid to said reservoir and for discharging lubricant therefrom including a movably mounted control element in said reservoir having passage means for supplying pressure fluid to said reservoir and discharging lubricant from said reservoir and movable into different controlling positions with respect to the reservoir in different drilling positions of the rock drill.

10. In a rock drill, a pressure iluid actuated hammer motor having a front head structure and moving motor parts and a pressure uid supply, and lubricator means embodied in said front head structure at the forward end of the rock drill and operative only upon flow of pressure fluid to said motor for automatically supplying a continuous, positive, controlled flow of lubricant to the moving motor parts irrespective of the drilling position of the rock drill and the level of the lubricant in said lubricator means, said lubricator means including a lubricant reservoir and means for supplying pressure fluid to said reservoir and for discharging lubricant therefrom including a movably mounted control element in said reservoir having passage means for supplying pressure iluid to said reservoir and discharging lubricant from said reservoir and movable into different controlling positions with respect to the reservoir in different drilling positions of the rock drill, said supply and discharge means having pressure fluid delivery and lubricant egress passages communicating with said reservoir and so arranged as to prevent flow of lubricant from said reservoir to the motor when the supply of pressure fluid to the motor is discontinued.

ELMER G. GARTIN. 

